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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

A. E. & H. ROBINSON.

- HOT AIR ENGINE.

No, 309,168.- Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

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A. E. & H. ROBINSON.

6N0 Model.)

HOT AIR ENGINE.

Patented Dec. 9, 1884 ImerzZor \Mmw, Wm wwkd. bwd Wm \MMQTU -nrrnDdrarns arnnr rrren.

ARNOLD EDMUND ROBINSON AND HORACE ROBINSON, OF MANCHESTER, COUNTY OFLANCASTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE VICTORCALORIC ENGINE COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, N. J.

HOT-AIR ENGINE.

SPBCIFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,163, dated December9, 1884.

Application filed .Tune 24, 1884. (No model.) Patented in EnglandNovember 18, 1 88l, No. 5,056.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARNOLD EDMUND ROB- INsON and HORAOE ROBINSON,subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, and residents of Man- 5 chester,county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprove ments in Hot-Air Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to that class of airengines in which the air isalternately heated and cooled, and the consequent expansion andcontraction and variation of pressure is utilized to produce motivepower.

\Ve construct our engine with a vessel or cylinder open at one end, andformed of suitable metal, such as iron. The part nearer the open end iscooled, preferably, by means of a water jacket or tank surrounding it,while the part nearer the closed end is made of a larger in ternaldiameter, and is lined internally with fire-clay, plunibago, or othermaterial being a good non-conductor of heat. The internal diameter ofthesaid lining is equal to or slightly larger than the internal diameter ofthe cooled part of the cylinder, thus forming a continuation of it. Thelined portion of the cylinder or vessel is closed by an end orheater,preferably of an egg-ended form, or of a partlyhollow cylindrical formwith an egg end,

0 which extends into the lined part of the cylinder, but leaving a spacebetween the heater and the said lining. This space constitutes part ofthe heatingchamber. The heater is formed separately, and is bolted tothe chamher or cylinder, with a ring of asbestos or other goodnon-conductor of heat interposed. The aforesaid enlarged lined portionof the cham her or cylinder may be formed separately and attached to thecooled portion of the cylinder.

0 The object of the aforesaid lining of non-conductor is to moreeffectually confine the heat within the heating-chamber, and so thatheat shall not readily be transferred to the metal cylinder. Theposition of the non-conductor 4 5 also better separates the heater fromthe cooled end of the cylinder. The heater is heated by means of a flameor fire within it, in the manner described hereinafter, and the heat istransmitted through it to the air within the lined portion of thecylinder or chamber. The heater being of the form already described,

the pressure within the cylinder subjects the material of the heater tocompression. The heater may with safety be made thinner than if it weresubject to strains of tension. Thus 5 5 heat is easily conducted intothe heating-chamber. Another advantage of this form of heater is that itcan be carried into the heating-chain ber within the internal diameterof the aforesaid lining of nonconductor. The workingpiston operateswithin the aforesaid cooled end of the cylinder or vessel, and adisplacingpiston, combined with a moving regenerator, also workspartially within the cooled end of said cylinder and partially withinthe before- 6 5 mentioned lined portion of the cylinder or chamber, inthe manner described hereinafter. The working-piston is constructed ofmetal, and is made preferably of considerable length. On the externaldiameter may be 0 formed a groove, within which is placed sponge orcotton wick or other suitable material for taking up and distributingthe oil on the sides of the cylinder. At the inner end of the piston ajunk-ring is fitted for the purpose of adjusting the main cup-leather,(turned inward which leather works against the sides of the cylinder. Asecond j unk-ring ofsinaller diameter is fitted to the piston to adjusta small cup leather in the working piston, through which works thedisplacer-rod; or a gland may be substituted. Within the hollow portionof the working-piston are formed two bosses projecting inward. Thepiston is connected to the crank-shaft by means of a con- 8 5necting'rod, the end of which, connected to the piston, is formed as aring with two bosses thereon, which bosses fit between the aforesaid twobosses in the piston. The said connecting-rod is continued from one sideof the 0 ring. A pin on each side is fitted through each of the saidbosses on the piston into each of the bosses on the ring of theconnecting rod, so that the connecting-rod is free to os cillate. Theother end of the connecting-rod is connected to one crank of atwo-throwcrank shaft.

The mode of attaching the working-piston connectingrod to theworking-piston by means of the ring in the connecting-rod and bosses onthe piston is for the purpose of relieving the working-piston from undueside strain,

'rod is formed with an enlargement or boss upon it outside 'or beyondthe cup-leather,

and the rod is carried up through ,the guide.

A pin is fixed tightly to the small end of the displacer connecting-rod,and is free to work in the boss in the displacer-rod. The displaeer-rodand the small end of the displacer connecting-rod can work through thering end of the working-piston connecting-rod. The

. object of this arrangement of connecting-gear is to get a compact andas direct a connect-ion as possiblewithout imposing undue side strain.

The combined displaeer and regenerator is constructed preferably in thefollowing manner: A metal cap or piston is made to form the end of thesaid displacer farthest away from the heater. The displacer-rod isattached thereto. This cap or piston works within the working-cylinder.Theouter part of the said cap or piston is of'smaller diameter than thecylinder, and has holes formed through its sides in such a manner thatthe air passing out through them from the regenerator shall be projeeted against the cool sides of the cylinder. The said cap or piston isenlarged near its inner end to fit the working-cylinder, and a groovemaybe turned upon it, within which is placed sponge or wick, or suitablematerial to take up and distribute the oil on the sides of the cylinder.A cylinder, preferably of thin sheet metal, is attached to the aforesaidcap, and is of such a diameter that it works near to the non-conductinglining of the heating-chamber aforesaid, but leaves a space between theaforesaid lining and the sides of the saidcylinder of thin metal. Thiscylinder of thinanetal is carried to such a length that when the saidcombined displacer and regeneratd'r is at the extremity of its inwardstroke the thin sheet metal shall be interposed between thenon-conducting lining of the heated chamber or cylinder and the heater,leaving an annular-shaped passage on either side of the said thin metal.A cap of castiron or other suitable material is attached within the saidthin-metal cylinder in such a position that when the displacer is at theend of its inward stroke the said cup shall nearly touch the egg-endedpart of the heater. Holes are formed in the thin-metal cylinder of thedisplacer near to the part where the said cap is attached. These holesare for the purpose of allowing the air to pass from the regenerator tothe outside of the said thinmetal cylinder. .The aforesaid cap is formed'shaped end of the heater.

so that it follows the lines or form of theegg- WVebs are cast on thecap, which support an annular or hollow shaped piece of material, beinga good nonconductor of heat, within the said thinmetal cylinder Thisnon-conducting material extends to or nearly to the outer cap or piston,already described. Within the inner diameter of the said non-conductoris placed the regenerator, of wire-gauze or other suitable material,presenting a large surface. At the end of the said non-conductorfarthest away from the heater is placed a ring, and at the same end ofthe regenerator is placed another ring. These rings are just within theouter cap or piston of the displaeer, and several screws are placed inthe said outer cap, hearing on each of the said rings, for the purposeof adjusting the said non-conductor and regenerator, the aforesaidnon-conductor bearing against the said wings or projectionsof the innercap, with a metal ring interposed, and the regenerator bearingagainsttheinner cap.

erably in the following manner: Round the chimney which carries away theproducts of combustion of the flame or fire is placed a tube or casingof larger diameter or size than the chimney. This space or passage leadsto a chamber or fire-box beneath the heater, which chamber may be linedwith a material which is a good non-conductor of heat, such as fire-clayor cement. The top of the said chamber or fire-box consists of adiaphragm formed with a tubular extension or uptake upon or attached toit. This tube or uptake extends toward the apex of the heater, and beingof smaller diameter or size than the heater, a space is left between itand the heater. This space leads to an annular space opening into thechimney.

\Vhen gas is used to heat the apparatus,'we prefer to use a Bunsenburner within the closed chamber or fire-box. In the side of the chamberis formed an opening through which the burner can be withdrawn from thechamber for lighting and inspection, and replaced. A cover or lid forthe opening is formed upon or attached to the pipe or burner. This lidor eoveris larger than the hole or opening in the chamber. When theburner is in its proper position for use, the lid or cover at its lowerside drops in between a stop and the lip of the opening, and the weightof the burner within the chamber causes the upper part of lid to bearagainst the lip or opening, thus closing it.

We do not confine ourselves to gas for heating the apparatus, as liquidor solid fuel may be used. When liquid fuel is used-such as petroleum orother hydrocarbon-the flame of the lamp is used in the chamber orfire-box in place of the Bunsen burner. W'hen coal or other solid fuelis used, the chamber or firebox is made deeper, and fire-bars areprovided within it. The heated air from the space The heating apparatusis constructed pref- I around the chimney is in this case brought intothat part of the chamber below the lirebars, which part of the chamberacts as an ash-box; or air may be brought direct from the atmosphereinto this part of the chamber without being drawn down the space aroundthe chimney.

The action ofthe engine is as follows: The heater is heated by means ofthe gas-flame or fire in the chamber or firebox. The flame beingsupplied with airheated by being drawn through thespace formed aroundthe chimney, as already described, the flame or heated products ofcombustion pass'throngh the tube or uptake before mentioned and comeinto contact with the heater, and are carried or drawn down the sides ofthe heater to the annular space leading to the chimney, up which theyescape. The air within the heated chamber is heated and the expansiondrives the working-piston outward. This actuate-s the crankshaft, andrather before the working-piston has reached the outer extremity of itsstroke the crank-shaft causes the combined displaccr andv regenerator tocommence its travel from the cool portion ot'the cylinderto the heatedchamber. The air from the heated. end of the chamber passes between thesides of the heater and the inner sides of the lower portion of thethinmetal cylinder forming part of the displacer, then passes up partway along between the outer side of said thin-metal cylinder and theinner side of the non-conductor of the heated chamber, then through theholes or openings through thethiirmetal cylinder, near to the inner capof the displacer, to the regenerator, oi'wirc-gauzc or other suitablematerial, contained within the displacer. The air then passes throughthe said regenerator, giving up a portion of its heat to theregenerator, and passes out cousiderably cooled through the holes oropen ings in the outer cap of the displaccr. "he air rushes through saidholes against the cooled sides of the workiug-cylinder, and is furthercooled. The consequent contraction reduces the pressure in the cylinderand allows the working-piston to descend, continuing the motion of thecrank-shaft, and, rather before the workingpiston has reached theextremity of its inward stroke, causes the displacer to commence itsoutward stroke. This causes the cool air to rush through the holes inthe outer cap of the combined displacer and re generator into andthrough the regenerator. Part of the heat previously left in theregenerator is now taken up by the air in its passage, and the air whichis thus partially heated passes over the inner cap,and is furtherheated, then passes out through the holes or openings in the thin-metalcylinder of the displacer, and flows between the outer sides of thethin-metal cylinder and non-conductor of the heated chamber. The airthen passes between the inner sides of the thin-metal cylindricalportion of the displacer and the heater, andis thus heated, theconsequent exend having a lining,

pansion of the air forcing the working piston I outward. Motive power isthus obtained. The crank actuating the displaeer is set so as to movethe displacer in advance of the work ing-piston.

In place of the double crank with one intermediate sheai or link andconnection, as de scribed, we may connect the working-piston by anordinary connectingrod to one crank or disk. A pin attached to anotherdisk or crank or to the flywheel aetuates the combined displacer andregenerator through the following connections: A rocking arm or lever isprovidcd, which oscillates or works within the aforesaid chamber orcylinder and a recess formed in the side of the said chamber orcylinder. The combined displacer and regenerator is suitably connectedto the end oi'this arm or lever, and the other end of said arm or leveris attached to a rocking shaft, which rocking shaft is carried outthrough a cupleather or suitable packing. Another arm or lever isattached outside to the said rocking shaft, and this arm or lever isconnected by a rod to the aforesaid crank or disk pin, or pin in thefly-wheel; and in order that our invention niay be fully understood andreadily car- .ried into effect, we will describe the accompanying sheetsof drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters markedthereon.

Figure l is a vertical section of a hot-air engine,taken in line withthe crank-shaft. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on :r m, Fig. 1.

A is the vessel or cylinder, open at one end, surrounded at its cooledor working end A by a water jacket or tank, A and at its heated A, oflire-clay, cement, plumbago, asbestns, or other material being a goodnon-conductor of heat. The lined portion of the cylinder may be formedseparately and attached to the cooled portion. of the cylinder.

B is the healer, of an egg-ended form, or partly of a hollow cylindricalform with an egg end. This heater extends into the lining A of thecylinder or vessel, but leaves aspace, a, between the heater l3 and thelining A. The space a constitutes partof the heat-ingchamber. The objectof the'lining A is to more eli'eetually confine the heat within theheatingchamber a, and so that heat shall not readily be transferred tothe metal cylinder or vessel. The position of the noncondnctor liningA." also better separates the heater B from the cooled part of cylinderor vessel. The heater B is preferably formed separate] y, and isattached or bolted to the cylinder or vessel A, with a ring, 13, ofasbestus or other good non-conductor of heat, interposed. The heater Bbeing of the form described, the pressure within the cylinder subjectsthe material or part of the material of the heater to compression, andthe heater may with safety be made thinner than if it were subject tostrains of tension. Thus heat is more readily conducted into theheating-chamber. Another advantage of this form of heater is that it canIiO be carried into the heating-chamber within the lining A.

C is the working-piston, which works within the cooled end of thecylinder A. A groove, 0, may be formed on the piston, within which maybe placed sponge or cotton wick or other suitable material for taking upand distributing the oil on the sides of the cylinder.

0 is a cup-leather turned inward. O is a smaller cup-leather.

O is a j unk-ring for adjusting the cup leather 0 is a junk-ring for adjusting cup-leather O. G G are two bosses formed within theworking-piston, and project inward.

The crank-shaft E is made with two cranks, EE, set at about an angle ofninety degrees, and as it is desirable to have the crank-pins E E asclose to one another as possible, they are connected together by asingle sheaf or link, E

F is the combined displacer and regenerator, and is constructed in thefollowing manner:

F is a metal cap or piston forming the end of the displaeer andregenerator F. This cap or piston F works within the cylinder A. Theouter portion, f, of cap Fis of smaller diameter than the cylinder A,and has holes or openings f f f formed through its sides. The enlargedend of the cap F fits the cylinder A.

F 'is a'hollow cylinder or hood, preferably of sheet metal, which isattached to the cap F, and is of such a diameter that it works withinthe lining A but leaves a space between itself and the lining A Thiscylinder or hood F is of such a length that when the combined displacerand regenerator F is at the extremity of itsinward stroke part of thethin metal F shall be interposed between the lining A of the heater B,leaving an annularshaped passage on either side of F.

F is a cap, preferably of metal, attached within F in such a positionthat when the combined displacer and regenerator is at the end of itsstroke, as shown in Fig. 1, the said cap F shall be close to theegg-ended part of the heater B. Holes f f f are formed in the thin-metalcylinder F near to the part where the cap F is attached. ,These holes ff f are for the purpose of allowing the air to pass from the regeneratorto the outside of the hood or cylinder F". The cap F is so formed thatit follows the lines or form of the egg end of the heater B. \Vebs maybe formed on the cap. These webs support an annular or hollow shapedpiece of material, f -such as asbestus or fire-clay-being a goodnon-conductor of heat. This material extends toward the outer cap, F.

F* is the regenerator, of wire-gauze or other suit-able material,presenting a large surface.

At the end of the non-conductor f 5 farthest away from the heater may beplaced a ring,

f and at the same end of the rcgenerator F" is placed another ring, fThese rings are within the cap F, and several screws may be placed inthe cap F, bearing on each of the said rings f f, for the purpose ofadjusting the aforesaid non-conductor f".

D is the connecting-rod for connecting the piston G to the crankshaft E.The end of the connecting-rod D which is attached to the piston isformed as a ring, D, (shown more clearly in Fig. 1,) with two bosses, (Z(Z, there on. These bosses fit between the bosses C O. A pin on eachside is fitted through each of the said bosses O G into each of the saidbosses d 02, so that the connecting-rod D is free to oscillate. Theother end of the connectingrod D is connected to a crank, E, of thecrankshaft E.

F is the displacer-rod,brought through the cup-leather (J or gland inthe working-piston C. This rod F is connected to the crank-pin FF bymeans of a connecting-rochF, and works through the guide F Thedisplacer-rod F is formed with an enlargement or boss, f", upon it,outside or beyond the cup-leather 0 A pin, f is fixed tightly to thesmall end of the connecting-rod F, and is free to work in the bossf onthe rod F The rod F and a small end of displacer connecting-rod F canwork through the ring end D of the piston connecting-rod D. The objectof this arrangement of connecting-gearis to get a direct connectionbetwecnthe crank-shaft and the reciprocating parts.

R is a governor.

G is a chimney to carry away the products of combustion of theflame orfire.

G is a casing around the chimney G, but leaving a space, 9, between thechimney G and the casing G. to a chamber or fire-box, G. This chambermay have a lining, 9 of a material which is a good nonconductor of heat.

G is a diaphragm formed with a tubular extension or uptake, G, upon orattached to it. This uptake G extends toward the heater B, and being ofsmaller diameter or size than the heater B a space, 9 is left between Gand B. This space 9" leads to an annular space, 9, opening into thechimney G.

H is a Bunsen gas-burner within the chanr ber G In the side of thechamber G is formed an opening, h, through which the burner can bewithdrawn from the chamber for lighting and inspection, and can bereplaced. A cover or lid, h, for the opening it is formed upon orattached to the pipe or burner H. Thelid h is larger than the hole oropening h. When the burner H is in its proper position for use, asshown, the lid h at its lower side drops in between a stop, h and thelip of the opening h, and the weight of the burner H within the chambercauses the uppermost part of the lid h to bear against the lip of theopening, thus closing it. \Vhen liquid fuelsuchas petroleum or otherhydrocarbon-is used instead of gas, the flame of the lamp is used in thechamber G in place of the Bunsen burner H.

The action of the engine, as shown at Figs. 1 and 2, is as follows: Theheater B is heated This space or passage 9 leads by the flame of theBunsen burner H or lire, the flame being supplied with air heated bybeing drawn through the space 9, formed around the chimney G, as alreadydescribed. The flame or heated products of combustion pass through thetube or uptake G, and come in contact with the heater B, and are carriedalong the sides of the heater, as shown by the arrows 1 1, Fig. 2, tothe annular space 9, leading to the chimney G, up which they escape. Theair or part of the air within the cylinder or vessel A is caused to flowfrom the cooled to theheated part and from the heated to the cooled partalternately by the action of the combined displacer and regenerator F onthe Sterling hot-air engine. The regeneratoris actuated by the crankEflwhich is in advance of the crank E. The combined displacer andregcnerator F is moved from the heated to the cooled part. The air orpart of the air passes in the direction of the arrows 1 1, Fig. 2, fromthe cooled part through the holes f f into and through the regeneratorF", taking up some of the heat left in the regencrator by the previousinstrolze. The air then passes through the holes f f, then betweenthelining A and thehood F and round between the hood F and the heater B.The air is thus heated, and the consequent expansion drives the piston Ooutward. \Vheu the combined displacer and regenerator is moved from thecooled to the heated part of the cylinder or vessel A, the air or partof the air passes in the opposite direction to that shown by the arrows1 1, Fig. 2, and the air passing through the regenerator F gives up aportion of its heat to the regenerator and passes out into the cooledpart of cylinder or vessel, andis further cooled, and the consequentcontraction allows the piston C to perform its inward stroke.

e have shown and described in the accompanying specification anddrawings an improvement in governors which we consider as new, but donot claim herein, but reserve for a future separate application.

Having stated the nature of our invention and described the manner ofperforming the same, we declare that we claim- 1. I n hot-air engine,the combinatlon of a double crankshaft, lfl,with the connecting-rod N f,the said casing containing a regenerator,

F, and cap F, the hood F being arranged s9 that air shall pass throughthe holes f f j and f f f and over the heater B, as hereinbeioredescribed, and illustrated in the accon'ipanying drawings.

3. In a hot-air engine, the lining A withln the cylinder or vessel formore cifectually confining theheat, the saidlining Asurround1ng theheater B, a space being left between the heater B and lining A, in whichspace the hood F works, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signedour names, in

presence of two witnesses, this 14th day of May, 1881-.

ARNOLD EDMUND ROBINSON. HORACE ROBINSON.

\Vitnesses:

ARTHUR O. HALL, ALBERT E. HALL,

U. S. Consulate, ilfimclzcsfer.

